Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia peplus is an erect, annual plant growing up to 30cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. This species is one of several in the family Euphorbiaceae that have attracted attention as a potential treatment for a range of cancers. It is cultivated in Australia for the extraction of its anti-cancer compounds, but overall quantities are unknown[]. It is potentially suitable for large-scale agricultural production[].

Known Hazards

The latex causes irritation of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Due to the toxicity of the latex, it is advised to use the plant topically only[].
Lactating goats, which fed on the aerial parts of this plant mixed with their usual green fodder, showed symptoms of general poisoning. The main toxic effects were seen in the heart, lung and liver. The milk of these goats, when consumed by their offspring, caused poisoning and even death, with signs similar to those observed in the adults. The toxicity is caused by ingenane type diterpenes[].

Botanical References

Range

Most of Europe, central Asia, the Mediterranean, north Africa to Eritrea and Somalia, Arabian Peninsula to India and China.

Habitat

Disturbed localities, gardens, pavements, waste places and pastures, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.25 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a position with some shade[].
In Australia Euphorbia peplus is grown in small plots for latex production. As the plants can be easily killed by herbicides, and because they do not spread beyond shade, the risk that they will become an invasive weed is small[]. The plant is classified as 'Invasive' in several countries however, including New Zealand and a number of Pacific Islands[].
If enough water is available throughout the year, Euphorbia peplus grows and produces seeds all year round and can be harvested for latex or seed whenever the need arises[].
The plant develops rapidly as it matures in 12 - 14 weeks[].
In Australia the fresh plant yield of Euphorbia peplus is 1 - 1.5 kg/m2, and latex yield is 100 - 300 mg/kg freshly harvested plant parts[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

This species is one of a number of plants in the Euphorbiaceae family that has attracted attention as a home remedy for skin cancer, particularly basal cell carcinomas. The latex causes irritation of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Due to the toxicity of the latex, it is advised to use the plant topically only[].
Several of the active compounds in this plant are good candidates to be developed into anticancer drugs considering the promising pharmacological studies and clinical trials results. As the active compounds are complex molecules, they have not yet been chemically produced, and can only be obtained directly from the plant. More research into large-scale production and mechanisation of cultivation and latex extraction is needed[].
The latex yields mostly diterpenes of the jatrophane, pepluane and ingenane types. Jatrophane and pepluane diterpenes are non-inflammatory, whereas ingenane diterpenes are responsible for the irritant and tumour-promoting properties of the latex[]
Of the pepluane esters, pepluanone showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in vivo[].
The most active compound is a hydrophobic diterpene ester, ingenol 3-angelate (PEP005), an irritant compound, which possesses topical anti-tumour activity against human cancer cell lines. It has given more than 90% complete responses on different skin cancers in a Phase II clinical trial and has emerged as a potential new topical anti-skin cancer. PEP005 also has potent antileukaemic effects and a powerful inhibitory activity against a wide range of other tumours tested, including breast cancer cells[].
Several diterpenes exhibited a pronounced or moderate anti-herpes virus[].
A crude chloroform extract and hot water extract of the aerial parts showed significant molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncates[].
An acetone extract showed larvicidal activity against the mosquito Culex pipiens[].
A methanolic leaf extract inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus, and also inhibited the production of aflatoxins, with greater inhibition at higher concentrations[].

The milky latex is toxic and irritant and is widely known as a therapeutic agent for the removal of warts and sun-spots on the skin[]. The latex is used in local medicine against corns and waxy growths[].

The plant is also used for its expectorant, anthelmintic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities[].

A leaf decoction is taken to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[]. An infusion of the aerial parts is taken to treat asthma, catarrh, as a purgative and to lower blood pressure[].

The plant (part not specified, but likely to be the latex) was widely used in the Ukraine in the 1990s as a treatment for cancer of the stomach, liver and uterus[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - very small (about 1,700 seeds per g) they have a germination rate of more than 70%[].

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